It's four more years at the helm for North Battleford mayor Ian Hamilton.
Hamilton was re-elected by acclamation Wednesday after the close of nominations in the municipal election in North Battleford.
No challengers came forward by the 4 p.m. deadline, assuring Hamilton of the mayor's chair and bringing the race for mayor to an early end.
It was a far cry from the 2009 vote, where five candidates ran in a race that Hamilton won by a mere 15 votes. This will be Hamilton's second term in the mayor's chair.
Even though the mayor's race is settled, North Battleford voters will still go to the polls to settle a competitive council race, with several familiar names running alongside newcomers.
The field in the Oct. 24 civic election is set with 12 candidates having filed nomination papers for the six council seats available. Unofficially, at the close of nominations Wednesday afternoon, five incumbents are seeking re-election: Don Buglas, Ron Crush, Ray Fox, Trent Houk and Grace Lang. The other candidates are former provincial Liberal leader Ryan Bater, Steven Cormons, Roxanne Kennedy, Greg Lightfoot, Brian Maunula, Cathy Richardson and Thomas Schwab.
Lightfoot, Maunula and Schwab were all on the ballot in last year's council byelection. Lightfoot who ended up being the last candidate to file nomination papers for this year's race, just ahead of the deadline.
The nominated candidates all had a 24-hour window to withdraw from the race by Thursday afternoon, otherwise, their nominations will become official and their names will appear on the ballot in the municipal election Oct. 24.
A major piece of news from Nomination Day from council ranks was the departure of veteran Brad Pattinson.
Pattinson, who served five terms on council before his unsuccessful 2009 mayoralty bid, but returned to council in a 2011 by-election, is not seeking reelection. Instead, he will be focusing on his new duties as mayor of the Resort Village of Cochin.
Pattinson was elected to that position this past summer.
